GOING HOME: Tuffie's special story has 'storybook ending' in St. Lucie

PORT ST. LUCIE - Although each of the animals at Dogs & Cats Forever has technically been "rescued" from some unfortunate circumstance, a few of the no kill shelter's residents were truly saved from disaster by someone who intervened at precisely the right moment.

Four years ago, Dogs & Cats Forever volunteer Justina Jensen was driving to work in Stuart when she saw a cat lying on the side of the road next to the curb. Thinking the cat had been run over, Jensen stopped to move her out of the way of traffic. "She never moved as I approached her," said Jensen, "but when I reached down to pick her up, she turned and looked at me." Jensen drove the cat to a veterinarian, who determined that the cat had a broken jaw and damage to her right eyelid, caused not by a car, but by an abusive human.

Jensen named the four-year-old Persian mix "Tuffie," and bought her to Dogs & Cats, where she soon found a foster home. Unfortunately, after four years, her foster mom became unable to care for her, and Tuffie, now eight, returned to the shelter.

But Tuffie was not destined for shelter life -- or even for life as a foster cat again. This time, she had her sights set on a permanent arrangement with a forever family. When Bobbie and Walter Deemer began looking for a new feline addition, Tuffie was ready.

Bobbie had inquired about a gray cat which had been highlighted as TC Palm's ‘Pet of the Week.' After learning that the gray cay had been adopted, Bobbie saw Tuffie on the shelter's website and wanted to meet her. "She was so sweet and precious," said Bobbie. "A tiny 5.6 pound bundle of joy- she won our hearts immediately."

Bobbie said that Tuffie has adjusted well, and that "her training program for us is coming along nicely." She added that Tuffie enjoys her river view from the screened enclosure, as well as selecting high places, such as the ironing board, to relax.

Although Bobbie didn't change her name, she says her cat is "hardly a Toughie," adding that she's cuddly, soft, and totally comfortable with the storybook ending she now enjoys.

This story is contributed by a member of the community and is neither endorsed nor affiliated with TCPalm.